Golf practice device



Feb. 25, 1964 o. D. wlNDALL 3,122,369

GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE med Dec. 21, 1961 INVENToR. owl-:N D. w1 NDALL BY Y ' AT'rcRNr-:Y

United States Patent O 3,122,369 GOLF PRACTCE DEVICE Gwen D. Windall, 877 Westfield Road, Scotch Plains, NJ. Filed Dec. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 161,087 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-185) My invention relates to a golf practice device and more particularly to a practice machine which will not only indicate the direction of a driven ball, but also will indicate the theoretical distance traveled had the shot been made in actual play.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a golf practice device which is portable and which may be quickly and easily set up for use.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a golf practive device which will positively indicate the distance of a shot and the direction which the golf ball would have taken in actual play.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the practice ball is returned, after the shot, to the proximity of the player.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the specifications and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device with the golf ball in starting position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device just after the ball has been struck.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device after the ball has spent its force.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view of the forward stake used in the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 5 is the rearward stake which is driven into the ground or otherwise maintained in an upright position, While 6 is the forward stake similar to stake 5 but having a loop 7 at its top for a purpose which will later be explained.

Firmly affixed to stake 5 is an elastic cord 8 which may be made of rubber or rubber composition material. The end of 8, away from stake 5, passes freely through loop 7 and is firmly aixed to the top ring 9 of swivel 10 through whose lower ring 11 is threaded elastic cord 8 between stakes 5 and 6 as may be seen by reference to FIG. 1.

To swivel ring 9 is also rmly attached one end of a second elastic cord 12, whose opposite end is firmly attached to a golf ball 13 by means of a U brad 14 rmly driven into the ball.

Surrounding and freely movable along the length of cord 8 between stakes 5 and 6 is an indicator piece 15.

Operation As may be seen by reference to FIG. 1, the stakes 5 and 6 are driven into the ground far enough apart so that ring 11 abuts on loop '7 with only slight tension on cord 8.

Cord 12 is now stretched out directly behind stake 6 and directly in line with cord 8 with the ball 13 resting on the ground. Next indicator 15 is moved along cord 8 until it abuts on ring 11.

When the ball 13 is hit by the head of a golf club 5 (not shown) the ball is driven upwardly and forwardly in the direction of rear stake 5, as may be seen by reference to FIG. 2 of the drawing. The ball in its forward travel exerts two vector forces; an upward force which stretches elastic cord 12 according to the -force 0f loft of the ball in actual play. The second force is a forward force which stretches cord 8 by pulling ring 11 along the cord; expansion being made possible by the cord running through loop 7 on stake 6, as may be seen by reference to FIG. 2 of the drawing; the travel of ring 11 being proportional to the forward impetus of ball 13, also as ring 11 moves in the direction of stake 5 it carries indicator 15.

When the ball 13 has spent its forward and upward 'force the elasticity of cords S and 12 take over to return them to their relaxed position and in such return the ball is snapped back to its approximate start position, as may be seen by reference to FIG. 3, however, if the ball 13 has been struck with a slice it will return to the yleft rear of stake 6; if hooked it will return to the right rear of stake 6 and if perfectly hit it will return to approximately its start position directly behind and in line with stakes 5 and 6.

I preferably mark sections of the cord 8 between stakes 5 and 6 so that on completion of each shot the player may observe how far the indicator 15 has been yforced along the cord and thereby interpolate the forward distance of the drive by noting whether the indicator is at point `16, 17, 18 or 19 which are theoretical one hundred yard marker points.

Many changes may be made in my invention by those skilled in the art without departing from its scope in which I claim:

l. 'In a golf practice device of the character described;

(a) Rear and front stakes adapted to be held rigidly upright;

(b) An elastic cord rigidly attached at one end to said rear stake and looped .through said front stake terminating in a ring encompassing said cord between said stakes;

(c) A second elastic cord attached to said ring at one end and rigidly attached to a golf ball at its opposite end.

2. In a golf practice device of the character described in claim 1 and (d) An indicator slidably mounted on said rst named elastic cord for movement therealong in response to movement of said ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 428,682 Great Britain May 13, 1935 

1. IN A GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED; (A) REAR AND FRONT STAKES ADAPTED TO BE HELD RIGIDLY UPRIGHT; (B) AN ELASTIC CORD RIGIDLY ATTACHED AT ONE END TO SAID REAR STAKE AND LOOPED THROUGH SAID FRONT STAKE TERMINATING IN A RING ENCOMPASSING SAID CORD BETWEEN SAID STAKES; (C) A SECOND ELASTIC CORD ATTACHED TO SAID RING AT ONE END AND RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO A GOLF BALL AT ITS OPPOSITE END. 